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Sarah Polonsky | August 21, 2013 - 7:26 pm

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Ranidu is recognized as the electronic dance music pioneer in Sri Lanka, having released three platinum-selling albums and has performed in 15 countries, including a performance at the Sydney Opera House. His ‘Bailatronic’ EP dropped yesterday (August 20) to web-wide acclaim, combining the folk dance music of Sri Lanka with trap, electro and many other bangin’ bouncy elements. VIBE asked Ranidu to share five things you should know about Baila as it is clearly destined to shatter American dance floors for years to come.

Ranidu Says:

1. The artwork I used for the EP is a traditional mask that is thousands of years old and one side is electrified to signify the mash up between old and new. Just another slice of Sri Lankan culture I wanted to bring to America.

2) The roots of the word ‘bailar’ comes from the Portugese, meaning ‘to dance.’ The original Baila music of Sri Lanka came from the Portugese and the Dutch because Sri Lanka was colonized by both countries.

3) Baila is the current form of folk and pop dance music that Sri Lankans dance to at weddings and cricket matches. Sri Lankans don’t dance to four on the floor they need swing.

4) This is the first time anyone has taken the essence of Baila music and brought it to Electronic Dance Music for a global audience. The Bailatronic EP has rhythms that have never been heard before outside of the Sri Lankan audience.

5) A Papare band is a specific type of band that plays Baila music at cricket matches. It has four main instruments: a snare (side) drum, bass drum (molama), a cymbal and a trumpet. I used this influence a lot during the making of the Bailatronic EP.